1st T20I, Oman, October 07, 2021, 04:00 PM
Sri Lanka
162/4(20.0ov)
Oman
143/8(20.0ov)
Sri Lanka beat Oman by 19 runs
Right then. That is it from this match. Sri Lanka lead the 2-match T20I series by 1-0 and the next match will be played on Saturday, 9th October 2021 at 1830 local (1430 GMT). Till then, goodbye and take care!
Earlier in the day, some outstanding performances from Avishka Fernando and Dasun Shanaka, helped their team reach a competitive total, and their bowlers capitalize on that performance.
Everyone expected one-way traffic but Oman did not let that happened. Although Sri Lanka had a perfect start, at one stage it looked like Oman will be bowled out inside 100 but they gave good competition. Lahiru Kumara was the pick of the bowler as he scalped 4 wickets. Nuwan Pradeep and Chamika Karunaratne scalped two each and helped their team take a 1-0 lead in this series.
Oman did not have the best of starts as their top order failed badly and at one stage, they were 23-4. It was then Mohammad Nadeem and Ayaan Khan who steadied the ship and brought life in this chase. The latter fell and was followed by Sandeep Goud but Naseem Khushi was batting in some different kind of pitch as he was hitting all over the park. 42 were needed in 12 balls and it was looking all possible but the lone hitter Naseem Khushi missed out as he failed to take his team over the line.
At one stage, Sri Lanka would have feared that Oman will chase it down with the way Naseem Khushi and Sandeep Goud were batting but in the end, their bowlers have done well to restrict them and now, Sri Lanka take 1-0 lead in this 2 T20I-match series.
In over# 20
0W
0
1wd
1
1
6
0
1wd
Chamika Karunaratne 28/2(4)
19.6
W
OUT! TAKEN! A length ball, outside off, Naseem Khushi swings across the line and hits it flat towards long on where Bhanuka Rajapaksa takes a good low catch. Sri Lanka win by 19 runs.
19.5
.
Length ball, outside off, swings across the lie and towards wide long on. They do not cross over.
19.5
1wd
WIDE! Full and way outside off. Left alone.
19.4
1
A length ball, outside off. Kaleemullah smacks it straight to mid off and takes a quick single.
19.3
1
Just a single. On a length, outside off, Khushi looks to smash but slices it over point for a single.
19.2
6
SIX! 23 needed in 4 balls! A length ball, on middle. Khushi pulls it all the way over square leg for a biggie.
19.1
.
Outside off. Khushi looks to smash at it but under edges it to the keeper.
19.1
1wd
WIDE! A length ball, way outside off. Left alone.
Kaleemullah walks out.
In over# 19
0W
0
0
1wd
1
6
4
Lahiru Kumara 30/4(4)
18.6
W
OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! The pressure was building and Nadeem had to go for a big shot! On a length, outside off. Mohammad Nadeem smashes at it but manages a thick outside edge to the keeper who pouches it. 30 needed in 6 balls.
18.5
.
Another short ball and another swing and a miss from Mohammad Nadeem.
18.4
.
Pacy short ball, on middle. Nadeem misses his pull.
18.4
1wd
WIDE! Way outside off, Left alone.